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Mrs. Wally Reid's Vivid Story of Her Husband's Fight to "Come Back
>>
. in sirs UFE
Injuries Suffered When Caboose
Crashed Down Embankment
Led to Drugs, She Writes
HOLLYWOOD NOT TO BLAME
Wife Tells Poignantly How
She Watched Physician
Give Actor His "First Shot"
The Times-Herald today prints
the first instalment of Mrs.
Davenport Reid's gripping, inti
mate story of her screen star
husband's tragic struggle to con
quer the drug habit. Succeed
ing installments of her remark
able narrative will appear from
day to day exclusively in The
Washington Herald.
By MRS. DOROTHY DAV
ENPORT REID,
Wife of Wallace Held, Internationaux
Known Film Atar.
(Copyright. 1111, by the Lo? Angele*
Examiner. All reproduction
right? reaerved.)
This is to be the intimate,
personal story of a brave
man's tremendous, tragic, tri
umphant fight against the
greatest curse of humanity?
dope! It is to be, I hope, at
once a vindication and a
warning. It is to be the story
of Wally Reid, whom every
one loves and none more than
I, his wife.
I aay it is a personal story sim
ply becauee it is, just that. It is
not a story of the laughabe "hor
rible Hollywood" which some per
sons believe exists oat here in the
green hills of California. It is
not a story of the "debased" mo
tion picture industry which some
so-called reformers are doubtless
well paid, wrongfully to portray.
HOLLYWOOD NOT TO BLAME.
The story of Wally Re?d is the
story of a great personal tragedy?
the story of a personal, isolated
case. And I may say with the ut
most truth that I know of no par
f allei In Hollywood, nor in all the
picture Industry.
I defy any person to ?ay and
prove that pictures, or that Holly
wood, caused Wally Reid to fall vic
tim to the curse of drugs. It sim
ply Is not true. Any such asser
tion Is silly.
I enter into the narration of Wal
ly'a story, then, with three objec
tives In view.
First, I would like the world,
through the great Hearst news
papers, to know the true, com
plete, unblemished, hitherto unpuli
lished story of Wally'e mon
umental battle against the nar
cotic demon. I will try to picture
Wally as he wan before the ten
tacles of the dragon gripped him; as
he was, as he is, and as I believe
he will be?a man all through.
Knowing all, I hope you who read
0 Will Judge whether he should be
pitied or censured, ruthlessly crush
ed or manfully helped, knocked
down or aided in his struggle to
come back. I have no fear of the
verdict.
80ME BOY MAY PROFIT.
Second, I hope that some of you
' will profit by the lesson. I shall
not attempt to write morale Into
this story; that would be foolish
and probably futile. But should
Wally'e story keep one boy from
the clutches of drugs, the path
of ruin, my work will have been
worth the while.
Third, I wish you would believe
me when I say from mv heart that
Wally'e case can by no stretch of
imagination or biased Judgment be
construed as typical of Hollywood.
of the motion picture colony, or
of the motion picture Industry. There
has been so much printed about the
eins of horrible Hollywood, and It
la really so funny to us who know
the truth. Wally Is big enough.
man enough, to shoulder his own
burden and to rise from his own
falls. I ??k only a minimum of
belief a maximum of reason.
Also may ' I ask understanding
tor my reasons in telling the truth
?bout Wally'e condition to the pub
Ilo via the press? It has come to
me from various sources that I.
his wife, "should have been the last
one to admit conditions." That Is
one way to look at It, hut remem
ber that, as I write this, my boy
' Is lying at death's door and I
couldn't see him go with the hor
rlble clouds of rumor, innuendo,
and gossip hanging over his name,
for they were ao far from the truth
and made of him a person deserv
ing of soorn and suspicion Instead
ef* a* ! know he deserves, only
praise and sympathy.
BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH.
I have only one regret. That is
that I and not Wally must reveal
those secrets. If Wally were able,
I know In my heart that he would
he the first to tell the truth that
people might know, and knowing.
Judge.
I write this nervously, within
eoiind of the private telephone that
leads to the sanitarium where
Wally swings, hour by hour, be
tween life and death. Each shrill
peal on that telephone may be a
summons to his deathbed. My
babies play in the next room?
Hilly, my own, and Betty, the
youngster we took into our home
eome months ago. Their voices
come through the door like a
muted symphony of happiness?
yet I wait, tense, Tor that dreaded
summons on the phone.
No man. however learned, is able
to aay that Wally will live. We
NOTED SCREEN STAR AND HIS HAPPY FAMILY]
An intimate photograph of Reid and his little
family. The inset shows his wife, known on the
screen as Dorothy Davenport, and below is the
stricken screen idol. The group picture shows
Mrs. Reid, in the role of a mother, with the two
children, Billy and Betty.
may only hope and trust and pray.
There is a skeleton In every
family closet. Ours began to take
form In the spring of 1919, when
a freight train caboose Jumped the
track and hurtled down a fifteen
foot embapkment in the north of
California. Let's go back for a
moment and peep into that car.
There they are, in the middle of
the smelly old caboose, sitting side
by side on the long leather-padded
seat to the right. Wally is in the
center, strumming his guitar and
singing lustily. On one side is
Speed Hanson with his inseparable
banjo. On the other is Grace Dar
mond, in a fluffy dress.
His HEAD INJURED.
They are going into the country
of the big trees for location for
"The Valley of the Giants,'' and
the old caboose groans and Jerks
and sways along over the narrow
gauge mountain railway. The sig
nal flags rattle In their tin con
tainer. The overalled leg of a
switchman dangles from the look
out tower Just inside the open,
banging door. That is the atmos
phere for this real life set.
All of s sudden the caboose
swayed perilously. The switchman
leaned from the tower. The car
bumped over the ties of a little
trestle and then, with a sickening
lurch, careened and toppled Into
space. It was only a short fall, as
I have said, but the piercing
screams of Miss Darmond reached
to the tops of the solemn old pino
trees along the right-of-way.
Wally crawled out of the door,
dragging Miss Darmond, whose
fluffy dress was drenched with
blood. When he reached the open,
he collapsed, but his wonderful
stamina came to his aid. With the
back of his skull scraped from the
blow of a falling railroad frog und
his left arm sliced to the bone by
glass, he still was strong enough
to lurch among the other members
of the party, attending to their
wounds.
Twelve hours later they reached
a town and a doctor and then. lor
the first time. Wally's wounds were
dressed. Against the advice of the
physician he went to work next
day and the picture was made on
schedule.
NO STAR MORE BELOVED.
But from that hour Wallace Reid
waa never the same. I do not
know why; It is an Intangible thing
I will try to explain as we go
along.
When he came back to Holly
wood. In six or seven weeks, ho
apparently had fully recovered. His
eyes were bright and his health
above normal. He had gained
weight.
It was months before I realised
that the change In his disposition
dated from that wreck in the lonely
mountain wilderness. How, In the
light of later events and develop
ments. I now can see. plainly; can
understsnd how It began and appre
ciate how he fell prey to the sooth
ing, deadly sweet promises of
drugs.
There wee at that time no ?creen
?tar more widely loved and admired
than Wally. There was no screen
home more happy than our?. There
was in all Hollywood no more per
fect husband than Wally. He was
I
?snd he Is?a clean, honorable gen
tleman. Tou have seen him on the
screen ? the tall. straight form
and the frank, boyish, open face
of him. The camera does not He.
Wally, in his best role as a lover,
did not exaggerate the traits he
displayed in his home with his
family.
So I was slow to realise the ter
rible change that came over him
a? the weeks merged Into mnnthh
and a year crept perilously near.
It was an Insidious change, without
definite beginning.
At first it was nervousness. He
could not sit still. He fidgeted.
He could not read without rocking
so violently that I momentarily ex
pected his chair to tip over. He
lost his healthy, normal appetite.
The happy ring went out of his
voice and a pitifully querulous wall
replaced It. He wee for all the
world like a spoiled child. Nothing
suited him. I could not under
stsnd it.
Insomnia came next?and then
the family doctor. I remember
only too clearly the night I watched
the doctor give Wally his first
"shot" to quiet his nerves and Its
astonishing effect. The old doctor
had been summoned from his bed
and for half an hour had tried
to reason Wally Into sleepiness.
The argument failed.
I lay In bed and watched with
a fascinated ? horror as the doctor
opened his little black bag and took
out a smsller case. The reading
light at the head of Wally's bed
glinted from the steel and glass
tube? which lay In the little case
In orderly rows. Shortly, with s
slight frown, the doctor prepared
the "shot."
The next installment of Mrs.
Hold's story will appear In The
Washington Herald tomorrow.
Extracts Own Teeth;
Dies of Poisoning
LANCASTER, Pa,, Dec. 30.?Ex
tracting hts own teeth when they
proved troublesome caused the
death of Prank I^audenberger.
He suffered an infection of the
lower Jaw and was advised to con
sult a dentist. Instead he extracted
the teeth with pliers. His death re
sulted from blood poisoning.
Baby Is Center
Of Family Fight
And a little child shall lead them
?Into battle?In the case of Mr.
snd Mrs. Cecil Letton.
Letton was arrested on a charge
of disorderly conduct, later being
released on $10 collateral, while
Mrs. Letton Is suffering from a
deep gash over her right cheek.
The two have been separated for
ths last two weeks. Last night,
according to the police. Letton vis
ited the home of his wife, 911 New
York avenue northwest, and at
tempted to gain possession of their
fourteen months old baby. The
struggle ensued.
WOMAN SLAYER Ai
ACCOMPLICE TO DIE
LONDON. Dec. 30?Mrs. F.dlth
Thompson, a beautiful matron of
llford, and her youthful lover.
Frederick Bywaters, who on De
cember It were found guilty of
the murder of the woman's hue
hand, must answer for their crime
upon the gallows, according to the
Dally Mail today.
Despite the mighty wave of pro
test against execution of a woman,
which has swept all Britain the
pam fortnight, Home Secretary W.
C. Brldgeman has derided to advise
King Ueorge against granting a
reprieve, the Dully Mall states.
Mrs. Thompson was OBe of 'three
women who were sentenced to
death within twenty-four hours by
the same Judge.
CITIZENS TO HEAR BALLOU.
Dr. Frank W. Ballou, superin
tendent of schools, will address the
Columbia Heights Citizens' Asso
ciation Tuesday night nt 8 o'clock,
at St. Stephen's Hall, 3017 Four
teenth street northwest.
??^?#???*^??^?*?*????*???*??*??^??*??*>?????**?**?^?*????^?**?
IN EASTERDAY CASE
Because of a nervous break
down, Mrs Elizabeth Holland,
mother of eighteen-year-old Gwen
dolyn Holland, of the Chaetleton
apartments, was unable to appear
in Police Court yesterday as the
complaining witness against Wilsn
W, Eastorday on a charge of
threats.
Easterday, who is out on bond
pending appeals from prison sen
tences amounting to eight years, is
alleged to have mads threats
against Mrs. Holland when she
objected to his attentions to her j
daughter.
At the request of Assistant Dis
trict Attorney Ralph Given. Judge
Hardison continued the case to
January 3. Eaterday is at liberty
under $300 bond. He was sen
tenced to serve two years for his
alleged participation along with
Jules (Nicky) Arnsteln and others.
In the conspiracy to bring stolen
bonds Into the District. He was
also sentenced to serve two years
each on three charges of forgery?
making a total of eight years.
?a rousing acclaim for the New!
New Year's Eve Celebration
$5.00 per Cover (Dinner Included)
Two jazz bands, fun, noise-makers, sport, good
fellowship?and a liberal spread.
Phone NOW for Reservations. Franklin 3034 or Main 3094.
Tomorrow?New Year's Dinner?$2.00
12 to 8:30
A feast of plenty with all the trimmings?and
served in our own best way.
' Il Ih and Pennsylvania Avenue
TELLSJ^AGEDY
Begged in Vain for Parish to
Act After Robed Band
Stole Husband.
FELT HE HAD BEEN SLAIN
Child Screams for Daddy as
Abductors Swoop Down
on Him.
Herewith is presented the ?tory
of Mrs. Thomas F. Richards,
widow of one of the victime of
the masked and robed band who
tortured to death Richards and
Watt Daniels last August and
cast their bodies into Lake La
Fourche, in Morehouse Parish,
La. Mrs. Richards details the
heartbreaking fight she made for
official action in the disappear
ance of her husband and his
friend, Daniels.
By MRS. THOMAS ? RICHARDS.
(Oopyrlsht. ttlJ. by International
N?w? Servie?.)
MER ROUGE, La.. Dec. 10.-? I
have been through the tortures of a
four months' search for my husband,
but now there Is a brightness ahead
that I feel sure is the light which
will lead to vindication of the efforta
of Governor Parker and the ven
geance of God and man on the kid
napers and murderers of my husband
and his dear friend, Walt Daniels.
Tonight there Is not calm in my
heart, but there Is a certain feeling
that a semblance of Justice has en
tered a caae that for a long time ap
peared hopelessly burled under the
apathy of public officers.
BEGINS LONG SEARCH.
I started my long search for the
murderers of my husband on Au
gust 25, the day after he had been
carried away. Friends to whom I
went for assistance advised me to go
to Rastrop. the headquarter? of the
parish government, but before I act
ed on this advice I asked a business
man In Mer Rouge to help me. He
called Sheriff Carpenter on the tele
phone gnd wan told there was not a
single clue on which a search could
be conducted.
On Saturday, August 28, I went to
Hastrop for a personal Interview with
Sheriff Carpenter and Judge Odum.
Sheriff Carpenter was not Interested
in the conversation except to say a
few words now and then. Judge
odum. on the other hand, was kind
and willing. He told me If 1 could
furnish a single piece of evidence
on which a search could be started
he would give every effort toward
solution of the mystery.
APPEALS TO GOVERNOR.
Tortured by grief and with the
cries of l.eota. my little three-year
old daughter. In my ears, I wrcte
Governor Parker on Sunday and
begged him to do something to help
me. I walked the yard of our little
home, I walked the streets. I prayed
to God that something would happen
to start an Investigation.
People said: "Don't worry; he will
come back," but they knew they lied.
They knew .what had happened to
my husband.
The grand Jury met on September
9. My hopes rose only to be daahed,
when the Jury did absolutely noth
ing. Tfi?y didn't want me to go to
Futurists Are
Up in Arms; to
Educate Public
l-OS ANGELES, Dec. SO.
THE futuristic, cubist and
Impressionable artist? are
up In arms and threaten a del
uge of flying paint brushes.
All because they claim the pub
lic does not property appreci
ate their art aa yet and must
be educated.
Desmond V. Rushton, head of
a group of Independent fatalis
tic artists, who claim they will
dab their way to fante regard
leas of obstacle?, has announc
ed that the next exhibition wUl
be held February 1.
The Intervening time will en
able the public to gala addition
al Information shout the im
pressionistic art, Ruahton aay?.
the grand Jury hearing. I thought
It strange, but I know the reason
now. As far as they were concern
ed, the disappearance of Tom Rich
ards and Watt Daniels was a mys
tery that never would be solved.
HOME IS WRECKED.
I can't find the words to expr?s?
the praise due. Governor Parker.
Had it not been for his assistance.
I would have worked alone.
When men I believe are members
of the Ku Klux Klan picked Mr.
Richards up Just a week before he
finally disappeared, Leota was with
him. They carried him away while
hIh.? stood In the road and screamed
tier pleas for them not to talee him.
I found her standing there crying.
All night she was so frightened and
nervous she could not sleep. Over
and over she told me: "Mama, those
old Ku Klux got my daddy," but be
capie home that time.
My home Is wrecked, my life Is
wrecked and my heart is broken.
Pola Has Not Sought
Permit to Wed Charlie
HOLLYWOOD, OsJ., Dec. 30?Of
ficial approval from the Famous
I'layers-ljtsky Corporation has not
been given Fola Negri, screen lumi
nary, to marry Charlie Chaplin, to
whom, according to Dame Rumor,
she is engaged. It was learned at
the Lacky studio today. It waa
aleo learned-that Miss Negri so far
has made no such application.
In her contract with the Lacky
corporation Is a clause stating she
cannot be married without offical
sanction of her employers.
Chinese Catholics Send
Embroidery to Harding?
President and Mrs. Harding yes
terday were presented with a New
Year gift of Chinese embroidery
work by Father William J. Cohtll.
The embroidery was made by the
women and children of the Catholic
mission at Kal Feng. China.
Father Cohlll. who has Just re
turned from China, was the first
American to be ordained in the
secular priesthood of that country.
Firemen Rescue Horse
Trapped in Excavation
Firemen from No. 2 truck com
pany yesterday were called out to
rescue a horse which had fallen in
to an excavation near Thlrty-eocond
and ? streets northwest.
With the aid of a block and
tackle, firemen had little difficulty
In freeing the animal, which be
longed to the American Ice Com
pany.
PLAN Dra YEAR
Special Watch Ordered to Pre
vent Alcoholic Christening
of Infant 1923.
LIQUOR SOURCES GUARDED
Efforts for Year to Be Directed
Against Big Offenders,
Officials Say.
"The metropolitan een re of
the United States will b d:?er
this New Year eve than ?vt-r be
fore!"
This is the New Year , set
to the nation last night fi ? ??
Federal prohibition enfoi su. '
borea a.
AGENTS MOBILIZE]).
All plans have been comp -? "
make this New Tear the m -
In history. Every prohlbltlo ssjent
has received orders to "be on IMS
toes." rather than at home, w*-ru
ing them. Divisional directo -a have
been Instructed to call bac such
agents on leave aa are nei -m.?it.
while the "mobile enforcement
force" has been distributed among
the larger citte?.
The tip that "Isxy and Moe are in
town?look out!" created consterna
tion in Washington bootleg circles
last night and sounded a death-knell
to the liquor business, but up to
early today Irsy and Moe had not
figured in any Important raids or
arrests.
"There can be no question of
doubt but that this New Year will
be the driest of any since prohibi
tion," James K. Jones, acting pro
hibition director, informed the In
ternational News Service yesterday.
"Our plans are well laid and a close
watch Is to be kept on all places
where a hilarious celebration might
be expected."
AFTER BIG GAME.
The prohibition unit Is now pre
paring to concentrate upon a new
policy of enforcement whereby all
alleged discrimination between the
"higher up," or rich man. and the
poorer class will be removed. It is
the Intent of the bureau, in the fu
ture to confine its men to running
down of the big cases, and leave
local authorities to deal with the
'hip pocket' case," Jones an
nounced.
"The proper enforcement of the
Volstead act," Jones said, "to my
mind, would be to have the Federal
agent? concentrate on the big men
?on such cases as fraud, conaplr
acy and illegal withdrawal?and
leave minor violations to the police
In the past year, we have secured
such an additional measure of co
operation from the local authorities
as to permit of the pursuance of
this polier."
REFORMS IN lWt NOTED.
Many reforms have been noted
by the prohibition authorities In
the past year. First, the "home
brewing erase" appears to have
abated. 8eeond, the holidays have
passed without the warehouse and
distillery robberies which marked
the Christmas-New Tear season
last year.
BIG DUTY ON DOLLS.
MELBOURNE, Dec ?n^?Though
the duty on German dolls is 2S0
per cent great quantities are being
Imported.
'Ktwlbxic Sfyfct AmuIla
iVOWf you Sat>e ^ ?? J4
On All of Our
SUITS & O'COATS
The aaroe at y la? that h? re pleased nearly a half million wall
New York men
Value? to
$35.00
NOW
vllv
$01.75
$1 ?.75
Value? to
$50.00
NOW
I9C.75
NOW
Value? to
$30.00
It is hardly necessary to remind you that these garments represent super
value. The price tells that. While they last at this figure.
Closing Out Broken Lot Sizes
Suits & OToats
Formerly Sold A?
High
$25 and $30
WAS $J2
1130 itd
.50
? ?? m
10th & F SU. *?E* 2nd Floor